Plum has worked with CS Tang for a long while. And after meeting and spending time with him a few years ago, our admiration deepened when we found that his breadth of information was made that much better by the thoughtful depth he brought to his subjects. His recent and new-to-Plum book, “The Mysterious Power […]
Feb
23
2018
23
2018
Aug
20
2017
20
2017
Instructor’s Notebook: Revelations
Sometimes, words that once held deeper meanings are now expressed in shallow terms. It’s just “aaawesssomme.” For instance, when people use the word, “revelation” they are probably pumping up some slight thing, like office gossip, or promoting the discovery of the correct word in a crossword puzzle. But the core meaning of revelation has more […]
Jan
9
2017
9
2017
Stillness & Movement: Part Two
Thinking About Movement Learning movement–and therefore footwork–is a progression through four modes of stepping. First, when the beginner has just walked in off the street and you ask him to punch, he will shoot arm first, before stepping. Envision tense shoulders, chest out and arm fully extended as he steps/falls awkwardly. Here’s the first, or […]
Jun
9
2015
9
2015
A Conversation on Yiquan
As promised, here is our 15 minute interview with C. S. Tang on his insights into Yiquan. Simple explanations for some of the more opaque concepts of this practice, like “Why Stand?” Also, a great story about that little-known association between Yiquan founder Wang Xiang Zhai and famous kendo master Kenichi Sawai. Click picture to […]
Jun
9
2015
9
2015
Insights Into Yiquan: A Conversation with C. S. Tang
For more on C. S. Tang and his new book, The Complete Yiquan, CLICK HERE
Jun
6
2015
6
2015
The Complete Book of Yiquan
As we mentioned in closing our last article on meeting C S Tang in Hong Kong, we have acquired his new book (along with a few others to come) on Yiquan. As a matter of fact its title, The Complete Book of Yiquan, is quite accurate: it is a comprehensive manual on this sometimes-controversial practice […]
Jun
2
2015
2
2015
Meeting C. S. Tang
Those even slightly familiar with our site, might note the name C. S. Tang. Sifu Tang is a familiar figure in Chinese martial arts (CMA) and also the co-author with Liu Jing Ru, of a popular Bagua Zhang book, “Dragon Stretches its Claws”. We went by his school and were warmly greeted by Sifu Tang. […]
Jul
7
2014
7
2014
One, Three and, of course, Two
These are the announcements we love to make: YiQuan practitioner Jan Diepersloot has not only reprinted the scarce Volume One in his Warriors of Stillness series, but look! He has now also published the long-awaited Volume 3: Masters of Perception. Diepersloot studied under Fong Ha, Han Xing Yuan, Yu Pen Xi, Cai Song Fang and […]
Jan
25
2014
25
2014
Why should martial artists stand?
But in general, the question “why should martial artists stand?” kept bugging me.
Dec
8
2013
8
2013
Kung Fu in the Next Century
The problem with Shaolin is not that it will disappear but that the name will become so common as to signify nothing.
Aug
15
2013
15
2013
Wujishi Has Arrived!
These two Standing fellows can only signal one thing: the arrival of Plum’s edition of Wujishi Breathing Exercises book, by Cai Songfang. There are several earlier announcements such as this ONE, which tell a bit of the story, but for right now, if you click on either of our friends to the left, it will […]
Aug
13
2013
13
2013
What Are You Waiting For?
Yes, you read it correctly. The FIRST English language edition of Shifu Sun’s treatise on Swimming Body Bagua Zhang (400 pages!), along with a DVD, will arrive shortly from China…
Mar
28
2012
28
2012
Standing Still
Personally, I continue to believe that standing practice is important and useful. The trouble is that there is a deep, deep contradiction in the way it is taught in many schools.
May
17
2011
17
2011
Nov
4
2009
4
2009
Product: Yi Quan DVDs
A new presentation of Yi Quan by Zhang Guang Yu.
Feb
26
2009
26
2009
Demystifying Tai Chi
This wasn’t the first time he had tried to get to the core of the Internal Styles and Tai Chi in particular…
Oct
21
2004
21
2004
Tai Chi, Balance and Longevity
Falls often result in permanent disability and shortened life spans. Tai Chi proved to be an effective, low cost method of improving balance.
